Papilio liomedon

It is similar to Papilio demolion but distinguishable chiefly by the pale greenish-yellow band that crosses the wings starting from the middle and not from just before the middle of the dorsal margin of the hindwing, also this band is composed entirely of separate spots on the forewing.

Male and female: Upper-side similar to Papilio demolion; but differs on the fore-wing, in all the spots, composing the transverse discal pale sulfur-yellow band, being distinctly separated from one another, and are somewhat smaller in the female. On the hind-wing, the pale sulfur-yellow band is placed farther from the base, with its outer edge extending beyond the cell; the sub-marginal lunules are somewhat larger and have more acute outer points. Underside similar to P. demolion; but with the same differences in the band, on both wings, as on the upper-side, and on the hind-wing the discal black patches between the veins are shorter.

Western Ghats and hills of southern India. It is common (May to August) in Thenmala, Kollam district, south Kerala.

There are two to three broods a year. Recorded in Kodagu (Coorg) as having broods from September to October, November to December, and, from April to May. Recorded in Karnataka in July and in September. Males appear to outnumber the females.

The life-history of this insect is given by Messrs. Davidson and Aitken: One of these gentlemen watched a female, P. liomedon, laying its eggs on a tender shoot of a small jungle tree or shrub (Acronychia laurifolia). There were "ten eggs, laid one on top of the other." Of the caterpillars which emerged five days after the eggs were laid, "five passed successfully through all dangers and became beautiful specimens, one female and four males. (This is one of the butterflies of which we rarely find females.) All through their lives these larvae continued gregarious, dispersing occasionally to feed, but always returning to rest side by side on the upper surface of a leaf. The following dates may be interesting. Eggs laid 2 August, hatched 7 August; skins cast (and eaten) 12 August; again 17 August; again 20 to 22 August. The most advanced cast its skin again on the 28th August, became a pupa on the 2nd of September, and emerged on the 15th of September. The others followed within two days. …